An alternative simplified model of tensile membrane action of slabs in fire

This paper presents an initial re-examination of the mechanisms of tensile membrane action of thin concrete floor slabs. The study is based on a large-deflection plastic analysis, which can apply to either isolated or continuous slabs at ambient or high temperatures. The basic calculation method considers plain flat slabs, but is in no way limited to these, or to isotropic reinforcement. The new method is compared against the generic Bailey-BRE method, indicating for some typical examples that the actual enhancement of yield-line capacity due to TMA can be over-estimated by the latter